Lesson Plan Outline for Comparative Study

Grade: 2 Theme: Masterpiece Great

Artwork & Artist Katsushika Hokusai 1760-1849 (Cat-sue-SHI-ka HO-ku-sigh) The Great Wave 1831-34 or The Breaking Wave of Kanagawa General Information Woodblock print, 9 x 14 Original is at the Hakone Museum, Japan Generalization Probably the most iconic Japanese artwork in the world. It depicts a giant wave about to crash down on three fishing boats. Mt. Fuji on the horizon is dwarfed by the wave. Yin violence of nature balances the yang relaxed confidence of the fishermen. Its a sea storm but the sun is shining. Power of nature, smallness of man. The print was made when the artist was 76 yrs old, as part of his Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji series. It was made using color woodblock printing and many thousands of impressions were made - each one sold quite cheaply. Period Facts Japan, The Tokugawa Shogunate (Shogun Period) took over the country and cut off Japan from all foreign influence from the 1600s until early 1800s. Contact with Western culture was forbidden, Japan enjoyed 200 years of peace from the outside world. During this time most of Japans rich cultural heritage flourished. Shoguns, samurai, and geishas were commonly depicted in art. Artist Facts Born in Edo (now Tokyo) Hokusai changed his name over 30 times and moved 93 times during his life of 89 years. In Japan it was common to
change your name a few times during your lifetime. He did it more than usual. In a time of regimented values, he was cocky, quarrelsome and sensational. Often got thrown out of schools but was a stubborn artistic genius. He started working for a master wood-carver, but got thrown out because he was too talented. He started out drawing comic books, banners, designing greeting cards and illustrating books. Hokusai was once asked to enter an artists competition. He started by laying a large piece of paper on the groun d and painting a blue curve across it. He then dipped a chickens feet in red paint and chased it across the paper. He then called it Red Maple Leaves Floating in the Tatsua River. He won the competition. He learned the art of copperplate engraving that was snuck into the country, and introduced the elements into his woodblock art. It is said that he was famous for never cleaning his house and moved when it became too dirty to live in, about once a year. He attracted attention by putting on public shows. He amazed people when he drew birds in flight- on a grain of rice. Crowds cheered him when he made giant paintings with a broom as a brush. Sometimes he painted while hanging upside down. He rebelled against the traditional genre used in art and began to make pictures of everyday life, ordinary people and simple beauty. He made prints of his art so everyday people could own one of his masterpieces. One day in far away Paris, a famous artist happened upon one of these prints while unwrapping a vase in an import shop. Edgar Degas was amazed by the clarity, flat line, bright color and asymmetrical composition of his discovery among the package wrappings. He sought more. This art influenced the impressionist movement in Europe. One of his last works was signed The Art crazy old man, his last name, which was Gwakio Rojin.

Lesson Focus Descriptive LINE quality, subtle color graduation Ukiyoe style (Pictures of the Floating world) woodblock style that depicts everyday people and ordinary life LINE: The path of a moving point. Kinds of LINES: Measure- length and width, Long, short, thick and thin. Type: jagged, curved, straight, zigzag, etc Direction: Horizontal: rest and repose Virtical: loftiness Diagonal: movement or direction Soft Curves: comfort Acute Curves: Turbulence Direction is the most important because it controls the movement of our eyes while viewing. It conveys mood. Line as Value: Crosshatching is used for shading Print: an image or picture which has more than one copy and which has been produced from a relief plate.
Wood block prints were made with a piece of paper and a block of soft wood with a picture made of LINES carved into it. The carving was covered with ink and while still wet, was stamped against the paper. A picture was printed onto the paper. This can be done over and over again.

Project/Game scratch foam block project as seen on www.glittergoods.typepad.com

This project complements the LINE lesson